Thermodynamics

6 ECTS credits
150 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 1004895ANR for all students in the 1st semester at a (A) Bachelor - preliminary level.

Semester

1st semester

Enrollment based on exam contract

Impossible

Grading method

Grading (scale from 0 to 20)

Can retake in second session

Yes

Enrollment Requirements

Students bachelor Bio-engineering and bachelor Chemistry must have followed 'Chemistry: Structure of Matter and Chemical Reactions I', 'Chemistry: Structure of Matter and Chemical Reactions II' and 'Physics: Vibrations, Waves and Thermodynamics' before they can enroll for 'Thermodynamics'. Students bachelor Physics and Astronomy must have followed 'Chemistry: Structure of Matter and Chemical Reactions I' and 'Mechanics' before they can enroll for 'Thermodynamics'.

Taught in

Dutch

Faculty

Faculty of Sciences and Bioengineering Sciences

Department

Chemistry

Educational team

Joeri Denayer (course titular)
Benjamin Claessens

Activities and contact hours

26 contact hours Lecture
39 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals

Course Content

Starting from common experience, such as the fact that energy cannot be create or destroyed and facts concerning the spontaneous progress of certain events (chemical reactions, heat transport from hot to cold,...) a general method is developed that allows to establish relations between the macroscopic properties of matter and to predict directions of spontaneous changes. This methodology is subsequently applied to predict the properties of gasses, solutions and for chemical and physical equilibria.  

The course covers the following topics:

- The four laws of thermodynamics.

- The fundamental equations and the thermodynamic potentials. 

- General criteria for equilibrium conditions and spontaneous change.

- Thermochemistry.

- Properties of gasses and liquids.

- Chemical and physical changes. 

</dd> <dt>Course material</dt> <dd>Course text (Required) : Thermodynamica, Finsy, VUB, 2220170000954, 2015<br>Handbook (Recommended) : Physical chemistry, P.A. Atkins, 11de, Oxford University Press, 9780198769866, 2017</dd> <dt>Additional info</dt> <dd><p>Own course notes (Thermodynamica - R. Finsy & J. Denayer) (available in VUB shop)</p><p>P.A. Atkins : Physical chemistry, Oxford University Press (2002) (available in central library and VUB webshop)<br /><br />Complementary study material:<br />Thermodynamica - R. Finsy - Dienst Uitgaven V.U.B.(In Dutch)</p><div data-extension-version="1.0.4" id="ConnectiveDocSignExtentionInstalled"> </div><div data-extension-version="1.0.4" id="ConnectiveDocSignExtentionInstalled"> </div></dd> <dt>Learning Outcomes</dt> <dd> <h3 class="h6">General competencies</h3> <p><p> </p><div> - Having knowledge and insight in concepts such as temperature, work, heat, energy and entropy.</div><div> - Knowing the laws of thermodynamics.</div><div>  - Specify several criteria for predicting equilibria and directions of spontaneous change. </div><div> - Apply these criteria for predicting the properties of gasses and solutions.</div><div> - Apply these criteria in problems of chemical and physical equilibria.  </div><div> - Apply this knowledge for solving simple problems where both conceptual and computing skills are addressed</div><p><textarea id="adlesse_unifier_magic_element_id" style="display:none;">

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Written Exam determines 50% of the final mark.
Other Exam determines 50% of the final mark.

Within the Written Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

Oefeningen examen with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 50% of the final mark.

Note: Het mondelinge (verplichte) examen start met een afleiding (schriftelijk voorbereid) van 1 à 2 van de verbanden uiteengezet in het HOC. Er wordt nagegaan in hoeverre de student de afleidingen begrijpt, in staat is de juiste notaties te gebruiken, het beschouwde systeem kan weergeven en de gemaakte veronderstellingen begrijpt. Daarnaast wordt een aantal detailvragen gesteld, over verschillende onderdelen van de cursus.
In het mondeling gedeelte wordt vooral gepeild naar fysisch inzicht.

Within the Other Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

Theorie examen with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 50% of the final mark.

Note: Schriftelijk examen met 'open boek' (3 uur). Het schriftelijk deel bestaat uit het oplossen van een vijftal vraagstukjes vergelijkbaar met de modelvraagstukken opgelost tijdens de WPO.
In het schriftelijk gedeelte wordt gepeild naar fysisch inzicht, probleemoplossend vermogen en rekenvaardigheden.

Additional info regarding evaluation

- Written examination 'open book' style (3-4h) on exercises followed by an theoretical part 'closed book' style. The written part consists in solving five small problems of the kind presented and the exercises. The theory exam (compulsary) deals with the derivation of one or two of the general relations presented in the theory. Excercices and theoretical part are equally weighted.

- In the exercises exam, problemsolving and computational skills are probed. In the theoretical part, mainly physical insight is probed.

- In order to pass the exam, a minimum of 30% should be obtained for both parts of the exam.

- Partial marks are transferred to the second session, if the student obtains at least half of the score (for this part). Students may not relinquish partial marks.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark

The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context